Folding table.



Nu. 628,7I2. Patented .Iuly ll, I899.

J. w. nosnoua.

FOLDING TABLE.

(Application filed Oct. 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

arnr FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,712, dated July 11, 1899.

Eerial No. 694,793. Qlo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH W. Hosnoun, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding tables; and it has for its object to provide a table of simple and cheap construction and one capable of being readily folded up, so as to be conveniently stored for packing or transportation.

Briefly stated, thein vention comprises a table-top with a pair of legs hinged or pivoted to the under side thereof and a second pair of legs pivoted intermediate their ends to the said first-mentioned pair of legs in such manner as to be nested therein when folded and when spread apart to support the tabletop, the construction and arran gement being such that when the legs are folded together or nested the top can be swung down, so as to lie flat against the said legs, in which position the entire table will take up but a very small space and can be stored away for packing or transportation without occupying much room. I am aware that tables constructed on this general principle are not broadly new, and I do not lay claim to such generically, but more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in the general construction and arrangement of the various parts of the table and in an improved resilient orspring attachment whereby when the table-top is moved up into position for use the legs will be automatically swung out into operative position for supporting the top, said resilient or spring attachment also serving to hold or retain the legs and top in their folded positions.

With these objects in View the invention comprises the features of construction and arran gement of parts hereinafter described, and then more definitely pointed out in the claims which conclude this specification.

In order to enable others to understand, make; and use my said invention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a table constructed in accordance with the provisions of this specification. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the upper part of the table. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my improved table in its folded position. Fig. .4 is a modified arrangement of means for automatically spreading the legs.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the table-top, to the under opposite sides of which, near one edge, is secured a pair of bearing lugs or blocks 2, separated from each other, as shown, and to each of said lugs or blocks a leg 3 is pivoted, so as to have a free swinging movement. The said legs 3 are rigidly connected together intermediate their ends by means of a round or cross bar at, and to said cross-bar a second pair of legs 5 are pivoted intermediate their ends, said legs having a pivotal connection at their upper ends with a cross-bar 6, the construction and arrangement of both pair of legs being such that they can be folded or nested, so as to lie in practically the same plane, aswill be seen by referring to the drawlngs.

A longitudinal guide rod or wire 7 is secured at its opposite ends 8 to the under side of thetable-top, said rod or wire having a depression 7 formed therein near one end, and adjacent to said depression the rod or wire is bent downward in the form of a loop 9 to serve the double purpose of a catch for the crossbar 4 and a stop for the cross-bar 6, as will be explained hereinafter. The said cross bar 6 is provided with a transverse opening 10, through which the rod or wire 7 passes and by which the legs 5 are supported and guided at their upper ends.

In order to automatically spread the legs for supporting .the top when the latter is brought to a horizontal position, I have provided the following simple means: To the under side of the table-top, near the edge opposite to the bearing lugs or blocks 2 and at about the center thereof, I attach one end of a resilient strip 12, which may be either a coiled spring or an elastic band, and the opposite end of said strip or spring is secured to the cross-bar 6, the attachment being made in such manner that the spring or band will be under strain or tension whenever the two pairs of legs are nested or brought in the same plane, which is the case whenever the table is in its folded position. It will thus be seen that as soon as the table-top is raised to a horizontal position the legs 5 will be free to yield under the tension and strain exerted by the resilient connection 12 and said legs will be automatically drawn outward, at the same time spreading the legs 3, so that both pair of legs will be brought into proper position for supporting the table top. The downward bend or loop 9 in the Wire '7 acts as a stop to limit the outward movement of the cross-bar 6, and consequently regulates the spreading of the legs, while the depresbar close into the curve 9 of the loop 9,

whereby the parts are more firmly held in their locked positions.

If desired, I may form a notch 14 in the round or cross bar 4, into which the loop 9 can take, and this will serve to more firmly hold the legs against lateral movement.

'In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 I contemplate doing away with the resilient band 12, and in place thereof I employ two coiled springs 13, which are wound upon the cross-rod 4 at opposite sides and the free ends of which are bent laterally, so as to bear upon opposite edges of the legs 3 and 5, in which position they exert a tension to con stantly spread the legs.

If desired, I may use the springs 13 and also the resilient band 12, which will act conjointly, and thus serve to insure the immediate and proper spread of the legs whenever the tabletop is brought to a horizontal position, it being understood that whenever the table is folded both sets of springs and resilient connection are put under tension.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a simple and compact folding table and one that can be produced at a very small cost.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding table, the combination with the table-top, of a pair of legs hinged to the under side of said top and connected intermediate their ends by a central cross-rod,

another pair of legs pivotal] y attached to the said central cross-rod and connected together at their upper ends by a connecting-rod provided with a transverse opening, a longitudinal guide rod or wire secured at its opposite ends to the under side of the table-top, said guide rod or wire passing freely through the opening in the said connecting-rod, and a downwardly-bent loop formed in the guide rod or wire at a point to limit the outward movement of the said connecting-rod and to serve as a retaining-catch for the central crossrod, substantially as described.

2. In a folding table, the combination with the table-top having a pair of legs hinged to the underside thereof and connected intermediate their ends by a central cross-rod, of a second pair of legs pivotally attached to the said central cross-rod and connected together at their upper ends by a connecting-rod provided with an opening, a longitudinal guide-' rod secured at its opposite ends to the under side of the table-top, said guide-rod passing freely through the opening in the connecting rod, a downwardly-bent loop formed near one endof the guide-rod and a depression in the said guide-rod adjacent to the loop to receive the aforesaid connectingerod when the legs are spread apart, said loop being arranged at a point to cooperate with the central crossrod when the legs are folded to hold the latter in such folded position, substantially as described.

3. In a folding table, the combination with the table-top, of a pair of legs having a hinged or pivotal connection with the under side of the table-top, another pair of legs pivotally attached to the first-named pair of legs and connected by a cross-bar at their upper ends, and a resilient connection between said crossbar and the table-top forautomatically spreading the legs of the table, substantially as described.

4. In a folding table, the combination, with the table-top, of a pair of legs having a pivotal connection with the under side of the tabletop, another pair of legs connected by a crossrod at their upper ends and pivotally connected to the said first-named pair of legs so as to be folded or nested between the latter, said cross-rod being provided with an opening, a resilient strip having its opposite ends attached to the said cross-rod and table-top respectively, and a guide-rod secured to the under side of the table-top, said guide-rod passing through the opening in the said crossrod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH W. HOSHOUR. lVitnesses:

CHAS. M. WILLIAMS, DAVID G. WILLIAMS. 

